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ORCHARD PARK – You know the saying: when one door closes, another opens.
For the Buffalo Bills, it’s time to shut the door on edge rusher Von Miller and open it wide for superstar pass rusher Myles Garrett.
On Monday, Garrett officially requested a trade from the Cleveland Browns. In a heartfelt statement, he expressed his love for the team and its fans but ended with a decisive message: “With that in mind, I have requested to be traded from the Cleveland Browns.”
And with that, the rumor mill is officially in motion.
Unsurprisingly, the Browns quickly responded, stating they have no plans to trade Garrett. The 29-year-old is not only one of the best players in the franchise’s modern era but one of the greatest in Cleveland’s entire history.
Myles Garrett’s Dominance
Over eight seasons, Garrett has racked up 102.5 sacks, posting double-digit totals in each of the last seven years. He’s been named to six All-Pro teams (four as a first-teamer), earned six Pro Bowl selections, and was crowned the 2023 NFL Defensive Player of the Year.
In terms of defensive impact, few players in the league rival Garrett. Any team with Super Bowl aspirations should be interested.
Browns general manager Andrew Berry made his stance clear back in January, saying, “My anticipation, expectation is that he’ll have a direct ticket from Cleveland to Canton at the end of his years and expect him to be here and retire a Brown, quite frankly.” He reiterated that sentiment at the Senior Bowl.
Financially, trading Garrett wouldn’t be easy for Cleveland. According to Spotrac, moving him before June 1 would trigger a $36.2 million dead cap hit in 2025. A post-June 1 trade would spread that across two years—$14.8 million in 2025 and $21.5 million in 2026. However, waiting until June would push any draft compensation to 2026, which isn’t ideal for the Browns.
What Could the Bills Offer?
If Cleveland does entertain offers, Buffalo must be in the mix. Surrendering their 2025 and 2026 first-round picks shouldn’t deter them—especially considering their recent struggles with first-round selections.
The bigger hurdle is the financial aspect. The Bills would need to restructure Garrett’s contract, with Spotrac estimating an extension in the range of four years, $137 million. GM Brandon Beane would have to make significant cap adjustments, but he’s done it before.
“You do need difference makers,” Bills head coach Sean McDermott said last week. “You need two or three on each side of the ball that are top 1-3, 1-5 at their position… that’s what gets a team to the Super Bowl.”
The Bills thought they had that when they signed Miller to a six-year, $120 million contract in 2022. He was supposed to be the missing piece in their quest to dethrone the Kansas City Chiefs. However, after tearing his ACL in 2022, he never returned to form.
Time to Move On
Miller’s signing ultimately fell short of expectations. Now, at 35, he’s no longer the impact player Buffalo once hoped for. Releasing him would create a $15.4 million dead cap hit but free up $8.5 million in 2025—money that could help facilitate a move for Garrett.
“I don’t have any clarity on that today,” Beane said regarding Miller’s future. “We have a lot to evaluate, but I appreciate Von. We didn’t get three or four years of healthy Von, but he brought a championship mentality.”
While Miller provided leadership, his on-field production has diminished. Garrett, on the other hand, remains in his prime. He would give Buffalo something they haven’t had since Bruce Smith—a dominant pass rusher who forces opposing teams to adjust their entire game plan.
Beane acknowledged the Bills’ lack of pass rush in their AFC Championship Game loss to Kansas City. “We always want to be strong up front… if there’s an area we can improve, we’ll address it.”
Acquiring Myles Garrett would be a franchise-altering move. The Bills should do whatever it takes to make it happen.
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